Opinion
If you can legally carry a concealed firearm in your home state, you should be able to do the same when you travel across state lines. That’s common sense. It’s consistent with the Constitution. And thanks to the Supreme Court, it’s increasingly clear that it should be the law.
America doesn’t tell travelers to give up their First Amendment rights at a state border. It doesn’t say that Ohioans lose free speech in New Jersey, or that Texans lose Fourth Amendment protections when landing at LAX. Yet with the Second Amendment, some states act as if constitutional rights stop at their borders.
They don’t.
One Nation, One Right
National reciprocity doesn’t force states to adopt identical gun laws. It simply ensures that law-abiding citizens with valid concealed-carry permits are recognized across state lines, just as driver’s licenses are. Permit holders still follow local rules about where firearms may be carried, and dangerous individuals remain barred. Reciprocity respects both safety and freedom.
We already honor countless licenses nationwide, from marriage certificates to professional credentials. If a state has vetted and licensed a citizen to carry, other states should respect that judgment, unless they can justify a contrary rule under Bruen’s historical-tradition standard.
The Supreme Court Has Spoken
Heller (2008) confirmed the individual right to possess firearms for self-defense. McDonald (2010) extended that protection to the states. Bruen (2022) struck down New York’s “proper cause” requirement and reinforced that law-abiding citizens have the right to carry outside the home. Justice Thomas wrote:
“When the Second Amendment’s plain text covers an individual’s conduct, the Constitution presumptively protects that conduct. The government must then justify its regulation by demonstrating that it is consistent with the Nation’s historical tradition of firearm regulation.”
Historical records show that early American states did not deny travelers the right to bear arms simply because they weren’t locals.
Reciprocity Works for Drivers—Why Not Gun Owners?
Some argue that differing standards make reciprocity unsafe. But we already accept different driver standards nationwide. A 16-year-old licensed in Montana can drive in New Jersey, even though New Jersey law requires residents to be at least 17 to drive. The system works because states respect each other’s licenses.
The same principle should apply to firearms: if another state doubts a permit’s standards, it can still enforce its own location restrictions fairly—but it cannot deny the fundamental right itself.
Law-Abiding Gun Owners Are Safe
Nationwide, concealed carry permit holders are among the most law-abiding Americans. Studies from Texas, Florida, Minnesota, and beyond show permit holders commit firearm crimes at a fraction of one percent, far below the general population. According to the Crime Prevention Research Center, over 22 million Americans hold concealed-carry permits as of 2024, and they remain consistently law-abiding.
Additional evidence confirms this:
- In Colorado, permit holders had a monthly crime rate of 5.7 per 100,000, compared to 530.3 per 100,000 in the general population.
- An analysis of 20 states with Permitless carry laws before 2023 found 12 saw decreases in violent crime rates, with Missouri, New Hampshire, and Tennessee showing the largest drops.
- The Heritage Foundation reports that from 2007 to 2022, concealed-carry permits increased by over 300%, yet permit holders were involved in only 0.7% of firearm-related homicides.
Responsible, law-abiding citizens who carry firearms are part of the solution, not the problem. National reciprocity ensures they remain lawful citizens, even when crossing state lines.
Congress Must Act
The Constitution does not switch off at a state line. After Bruen, states have little justification to deny recognition of out-of-state permits with comparable standards.
At a minimum, Congress should pass legislation that:
- Requires states to honor out-of-state permits;
- Preserves states’ ability to regulate truly sensitive places using the Nation’s historical tradition of firearm requirement, as Justice Thomas mandated in Bruen.
This is about restoring constitutional balance, honoring federalism, and protecting the rights of responsible Americans.
The Second Amendment is not a suggestion; it is the law. Bruen reaffirmed that. The Constitution does not end at your state line, and neither should your rights.
Take Action
Contact your Senators and Representatives, write, or email—and demand support for national reciprocity:
- U.S. Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121 – operators connect you to your senator or representative.
- Senators: www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm
- Find Your Representative: www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
Remind them: your rights are not negotiable, not conditional, and not confined by borders. The Second Amendment is not a second-class right, and we will not allow it to be treated as one.
Our elected officials still listen, if only to keep their jobs. Make sure they hear you.
About Sean Maloney.
Sean Maloney is a criminal defense attorney, co-founder of Second Call Defense, and an NRA-certified firearms instructor. He is a nationally recognized speaker on critical topics including the Second Amendment, self-defense, the use of lethal force, and concealed carry. Sean has worked on numerous use-of-force and self-defense cases and has personally trained hundreds of civilians to respond safely and legally to life-threatening situations. He is a passionate advocate for restoring the cultural legitimacy of the Second Amendment and promoting personal responsibility in self-defense.
